Electrical brushing machine



y 1968 D. c. PIGGOTT ELECTRICAL BRUSHING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1966 INVENTOR David C. PIGGOTT 4 rivals/6V6 United States Patent 3,382,519 ELECTRICAL BRUSHING MACHINE David C. Piggott, 12047 OBrien Blvd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,803 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-22) The present invention relates in general to brushing machines, and more particularly to an electrically powered brushing machine for cleaning diamond rings.

It is well known that diamond rings may be cleaned by numerous methods, t-hree conventional methods being chemical cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and manual brush- Chemical cleaning methods require that the diamond ring to be cleaned be submerged in a special fluid containing a mixture of chemicals which dissolve and/ or loosen the dirt particles, oils, scums and other undesirable bodies from the surface of the diamond ring. The aforementioned special fluid containing a mixture of chemicals may be dangerous to the user, or may be harmful to the diamond ring. Chemical cleaning methods are relatively time-consuming.

Ultrasonic cleaning methods require that the diamond ring be submerged into a special cleaning fluid which is highly agitated intermolecularly by ultrasonic waves or vibrations produced by the ultrasonic cleaning machine. The aforementioned agitated fluid imparts a scrubbing action at the surface of the diamond ring, thereby loosening and floating away dirt particles, scums, oils and other undesirable bodies from the diamond ring. Ultrasoniccleaning machines are usually used where a large number of diamond rings and other small articles are to be cleaned each day, and the initial outlay for ultrasonic cleaning equipment is justified in lieu of other cleaning methods. Ultrasonic is generally an effective and thorough method of cleaning diamond rings.

Manual brushing methods require that the person performing the cleaning operation manually manipulate the diamond ring and cleaning brush to loosen the dirt particles, scums, oils and other undesirable bodies from the surface of the diamond ring. Often, a soap or mild chemical solution is used in conjunction with a manual brushing operation to act as a carrier or solvent for the undesirable bodies removed from the surface of the diamond ring. Manual brushing methods require that the person performing the cleaning operation possess a reasonable amount of manual dexterity. Cleaning of diamond rings by manual brushing is usually time-consuming and ineffective depending on the person performing the cleaning operation. Furthermore the relative movement between the brush and ring when the brush is manually manipulated is not efficient and does not provide the best cleaning movement.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an apparatus specially adapted for cleaning jewelry by impacting same from opposite sides by means of opposed brushes.

The present invention provides a fast, effective and thorough cleaning action that is considerably faster than conventional cleaning techniques. Furthermore the need for manual dexterity in brush cleaning is substantially eliminated by the present invention.

The present invention is based on the discovery that the most effective manner of brush cleaning diamond rings is by impacting opposite sides of the ring by means of a pair of opposed brushes moving in opposite directions thereby to engage and clean the ring.

Broadly the instant invention comprises a housing, a pair of brushes mounted in face to face relationship on said housing and means on said housing for oscillating said brushes toward and away from each other in unison.

3,382,519 Patented May 14, 1968 Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the instant diamond ring cleaner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one form of operating mechanism of the present invention.

As shown the present invention includes a housing 1 having a main section 2 in which the driving mechanism is contained and an auxiliary section 4 connected to the main section by a bridge member 6. A reservoir 10 for a suitable wetting agent may be provided in the section 4. A space 8 provided between the main and auxiliary sections 1 and 2 above the bridge member 6, accommodates the cleaning brushes 16 and 18 which are mounted on the arms 12 and 14 respectively. These arms 12 and 14 extend from the housing, main section 4 and are driven by a suitable driving means within said section 4. The arms 12 and 14 are biased to normally hold the brushes 16 and 18 in spaced relationship ready to receive the ring to be cleaned.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown one means for driving the cleaning device. The arms 12 and 14 in the illustrated embodiment are the opposite ends of a resilient U-shaped member 20, which acts to bias the arms apart. Mounted on each of the arms 12 and 14 are pins 22 and 24 respectively, which pins form cores slideable within the electromagnet shown schematically at 26, thereby to form a double-acting solenoid. Power leads 28 and 30 connect the solenoid to a suitable source of AC current. A switch 32 controls the flow of current to the device (see also FIG. 1).

The brushes to be used with the instant invention for cleaning of diamond rings must be carefully chosen. The brush must not be too stiff and the number of bristles per square inch must not be excessive. The applicant has found that the most suitable brush for cleaning diamond rings is a brush substantially equivalent to an Oral B40 toothbrush. This brush has 40 monofilament bristles per mounting hole.

Operation is initiated by moving the switch 32 to the ON position which energizes the solenoid causing the brushes to be vibrated toward and away from each other whereby the gap 34 is opened and closed. A diamond ring is cleaned by grasping same in one hand and inserting same between the vibrating brushes (the diamond ring may be inserted between the brushes before the switch is moved to the ON position or while the brushes are vibrating). The ring is manipulated between the brushes to present the various surfaces of the ring to the brushes for cleaning. While the brushing action, wherein the brushes vibrate and impact the ring from opposite sides, in itself will very adequately clean the ring, it is preferred to supplement this action by applying a wetting agent to the ring. For this reason the reservoir 10 may be filled with a solution of a suitable wetting agent into which the ring may be dipped.

While the disclosure has referred to the use of AC house current which will vibrate the brushes 16 and 18 at c.p.s. it is evident that by suitable well-known revisions the device may be adapted for DC current. Other modifications may also be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, for example the solenoid structure described may be replaced with a solid core electromagnet to attract the two arms 12 and 14. Also the arms 12 and 14 need not be joined to form the U-shape described above and may in fact simply be discrete arms biased apart by spring means or the like. Further modifications will also be evident to those skilled in the art.

The above description has been directed to the cleaning of diamond rings, however it is evident that other jewelry or the like may also be cleaned.

r i 1 aw 1. A brush cleaning apparatus .for jeuvelrycomprising a housjing, a pair ofarms extending from said housing,

a pairof brushes mounted onsaid arms and arranged in face to: face relationship, said arms being moveable to- 1,

Ward and away from each other to move said brushes from an open position providing a gap between saidbrushesand a closed position, electromechanical means for vibratingfsaid arms andmoving saidbrushes to and i from said open and said closed position.

2. A brush cleaneras defined in claim 1, wherein said electromechanical means comprises a coil, a pair of cores extending into said coil from opposite ends thereof, one

of said cores being connected to each of said arms.

3. A brush cleaner as defined in cla'un 1 wherein said 15 1 from said. first section, a reservoir in said second section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,342,280 6/1920 Fitzgerald 1522.3 X

:F ORE IGN PATENTS 1,355,913" 5/1964 France.

CHARLES A; WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BRUSH CLEANING APPARATUS FOR JEWELRY COMPRISING: A HOUSING, A PAIR OF ARMS EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING, A PAIR OF BRUSHES MOUNTED ON SAID ARMS AND ARRANGED IN FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIP, SAID ARMS BEING MOVEABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO MOVE SAID BRUSHES FROM AN OPEN POSITION PROVIDING A GAP BETWEEN SAID 